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Martin David Fry was born on 9 March 1958, in Stretford, Lancashire, and grew up in nearby Bramhall, Stockport, alongside his younger brother Jamie, whom later went on to join the indie rock band Earl Brutus.[2] In 1978, Fry was editing a fanzine titled Modern Drugs, when he first met future ABC band members Mark White and Stephen Singleton while interviewing them for an article in the fanzine. White and Singleton, then fronting a rock band called Vice Versa, invited Fry to join their band to play the keyboards.[3]

ABC broke up in 1992, with White leaving the music business to pursue an interest in Reiki therapy. Fry continued to work with EMI in the months thereafter but was axed from the label before his solo material could be released. Fry resurrected the ABC name in 1997 for the album Skyscraping, a homage to several of his musical heroes, including David Bowie, Roxy Music, and the Sex Pistols.[6] The album was a collaboration with Glenn Gregory of Heaven 17, and Honeyroot's Keith Lowndes.

The band has toured extensively, and performed live at events such as the 2001 Night of the Proms, where Fry was supported by a 72-piece orchestra and 50-piece choir.[7] In 2008, Fry released a new ABC album titled Traffic.

In April 2016, a single with a music video "Viva Love" was released as a teaser for The Lexicon of Love II album. The album entered the UK album chart at No. 5, the band's highest chart position since 1982 and first Top 10 entry since 1990.

In 2005, Fry embarked on an extensive UK tour with Tony Hadley, former lead singer of popular 1980s new wave band Spandau Ballet. Highlights of the tour were released on CD and DVD compilations, both titled Tony Hadley vs. Martin Fry. The DVD is available in Europe, but has yet to be released in NTSC format.

Fry was featured extensively in the 2006 VH1 mini-series 100 Greatest Songs of the 80's. When asked, Fry revealed that he hoped ABC's 1982 single "The Look of Love" would land a coveted slot in the Top 10. Despite his plea, the song was ranked No. 43.

On 19 July 2012, Fry received an honorary Doctor of Music degree from the University of Sheffield for his contribution of more than thirty years to music. The following day, his daughter, Nancy received her degree from the Department of Sociological Studies from the same University.[11]

As of 2016, he has been married to his wife Julie for more than 30 years.[12]